As President-elect Trump prepares to take the oath of office, how many of you know what it states? Here it is:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Notice that the oath is not to preserve, protect, and defend the United States or Americans, but the Constitution. Why? Remember that prior to the Constitution's composition and ratification, the Nation operated nationally under the Articles of Confederation which was simply a "league of friendship" among the states. The weakness of its national provisions is what prompted the Constitutional Convention. Thus, once the Convention had finished its work, its delegates (for the most part-39 of them) were highly invested in preserving what they toiled so long that 1787 summer to compose because they saw it as the best chance for America's success.